Brownie Ponts Blog

The state of my kitchen better not be a reflection of my inner mind. It’s most often cluttered, even littered, crammed full of odds-n-ends, bits-n-pieces, with quirky projects here and there.

Most are traditions I’ve come up with myself, though some, like the collection of wishbones on the window still are habits learned from my Mom. I often have a collection of art pieces around the wishbones… some tiles, ammonites, and a butterfly wing or two stuck to the window pane with water. Outside my sink window is the view of our fennel which continues to grow seven feet tall, thriving in our neglect.

Here’s bits of my kitchen on a good day: I used to be quite active in making ceramics and pottery. These leavings are all over my kitchen, most notably around my stove.

A: This is a ceramic sushi serving pillow I made. It is a porcelain box, that has softened corners and gently slopes downward on the top surface which is glazed a nice drippy blue with melted glass in the bottom. This is great for serving sushi-grade tuna on, as the blue contrasts with the maguro nicely, and the porcelain retains cold quite well when popped into the freezer.

B: This is a ceramic art box that shows part of my fascination with the form of ammonites. I think everyone should remember to decorate their kitchen with artwork (that can withstand the punishments of a kitchen environment).

C: More art bits! These are spikey’s from a more artsy assembledge.

D: A favorite mortar and pestle I made out of porcelain. The outside is covered in tiny bumps that make this quite nice to hold. This was made as a gift for Sweets during one of our earlier phases of flirtation.

E: A wonderful spoonrest made by local potter Leslie Green. Shortly after I bought this plate, Ms. Green had an article in the esteemed Ceramics Monthly magazine discussing an arresting dilemma that many potters face. One of her glaze chemical suppliers changed their mining techniques (they do this often, and don’t bother telling us lowely potters when the chemicals we purchase from them change) and as a result she can’t make the glaze on my lovely plate ever again. Now it’s a rare, spoonrest.

Oh, and how could I forget! My trusty cast iron skillet, that lives on the stove. I didn’t grow up with cast iron, so its been a process learning how to use it with my cooking. Now, I use it for almost everything.

I love handmade pottery and, like you, have a lot of it in my kitchen. I didn’t make any of it myself, though, still haven’t gotten to learning how. I want to see closeups of the things on the shelf…especially the ammonite box.

Oooh, talent!! I’m green with envy – that mortar and pestle.. I’m a total klutz with clay, but luckily I can buy fun stuff instead. I love travelling around and picking up small, interesting pieces here and there. I’m just now drinking coffee from my fave mug – made for me by an inmate, actually!

Yay! I’m glad you decided to share your kitchen with us! I love all the artsy stuff you make, and I am totally envious of both the mortar and pestle you MADE and the cast iron pan I’ve been wanting to get for quite some time…I can’t wait to see the rest! Keep it coming!

Such talent you have. What a lovely kitchen.
All the wall space in my tiny tiny kitchn if filled with cabinets except for small section. I have a silver searving tray that was my grandparents hanging in that section. There is also one open shelf where I ceramic pig I purchased in Texas years ago lives. It doesn’t really match but I think Mr/Ms pig likes it up there.